Throwback Thursday: Bonus Edition [VIDEO]

ENFIELD, CT — Normally, our Throwback Thursday column features an Enfield business or landmark which is no longer in existence. However, recently-acquired video footage of one of the most memorable days in town history necessitates a slightly different approach this time.

Enfield became the "hockey capital of Connecticut" over an eight-year stretch from 1982 to 1990. During that time, Enfield High School won three state ice hockey championships, while crosstown rival Fermi captured two.

Arguably the greatest day in Enfield sports history was March 12, 1983, when the Raiders and Falcons won the Division I and Division II titles at the now-defunct New Haven Coliseum. However, nearly a year to the day earlier, on March 13, 1982, the first ice hockey crown was captured by Enfield at Wesleyan University in Middletown.

The top-seeded Raiders, who had cruised to a 19-1 regular season record in 1981-82, earned a first-round bye in that year's Division II tournament, then crushed Westhill, 9-2 and Windsor, 7-3 to earn a berth in the title matchup against East Haven.

A hard-hitting affair saw the Raiders edge the Yellow Jackets by a 5-4 margin; at the final buzzer, dozens of excited fans jumped onto the ice to celebrate with the victors.

The 1981-82 Raider championship team was inducted into the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

This video, posted online Thursday by Tim O'Brien of the victorious Raider team, shows the entire championship tilt, from pregame warmups through the postgame celebration.

Photo courtesy of Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame

Video credit: Steve Larson via YouTube